Closure cap for liquid spray containers



Feb. 19,1952 R. MELLQN CLOSURE CAP FOR LIQUID SPRAY CONTAINERS Filed May 27, 1950 INVENTOR.

MELL ON Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITE.

STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE GAP FOR LIQUID SPRAY CONTAINERS 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pumps utilized for spraying liquids of various kinds from a bottle or the like.

More particularly, the present invention proposes certain improvements in spray pumps of the type commonly used to spray a liquid window cleaner on window panes, car Windshields and other glass surfaces; to spray liquid insecticides, moth proofing liquids, deodorizers and liquid preparations to remove ice and sleet from automobile Windshields; or for any other liquids of a similar type which are to be discharged in a fine spray or mist.

Heretofore, the spray or pump unit had to be purchased separately from the bottle which contained the liquid that had to be sprayed making it necessary to mount the spray or pump unit on the bottle and remove it therefromv each time that the liquid preparation was to be used. This resulted in a time consuming inconvenience accompanied by evaporation of the liquid preparation and, oft times, resulted in spilling of the bottle contents when carelessly handled during mounting and removing of the spray unit.

The known pump utilized for such spraying includes a valve immersed in the liquid in a bottle, said valve being closed in the normal position of the pump operating means and maintaining a quantity of liquid between itself and the spout means of the pump. This, it has been found, results in that said quantity of liquid rapidly evaporates and causes a financial loss to the user.

Another object of the invention therefore is the provision of removable cap means which not only seals the pump entirely within the bottle, but also encloses the pump so that no liquid is maintained between the said valve andthe pump spout means.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle in and on which the means of the invention are embodied.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the bottle with the cap means removed and with a portion thereof sectioned away.

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2, but with the .2 cap mounted in position on the top of the bottle and shown in vertical section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view of the cap per se.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the top portion of the bottle before the pump is mounted therein.

Fig. 6 is a view of the pump to be mounted in the bottle with the mid portion thereof broken away.

Fig. .7 isa sectional view of the bottom portion of the pump.

According to the invention a bottle l0 containing any liquid to be sprayed is provided with an externally threaded neck II and is sealed by a rubber plug l2 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The plug 12 has its top face flush with the top of the bottle l0 and is provided with a hole IS in its center which, until the liquid in the bottle is to be utilized, is sealed by a puncturable membranous sheet 14.

The pump to be associated with this bottle for the purpose of spraying the liquid on a window pane or the like is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 7. The pump comprises a long tube l5 having its lower end slidably fixed in a cylinder 46 and having slidably mounted thereon a sleeve ll. According to the invention, the sleeve IT is of slightly greater diameter than the cylinder Iii so that on puncturing the membrane l4 said cylinder can readily be passed through the hole 13 in plug l2. The wider sleeve I! must be forced into said hole however and the efiect is that the sleeve becomes fixed in the hole and the tube I5 is slidable up and down therein.

At its upper end tube l5 opens into a small housing l8 having a spout 20 through which liquid forced up through the tube l5 can be ejected. At the top of housing 3 there is provided a saddle-like finger piece 2| by which the tube [5 can be pressed downward into the cylinder IS.

A sponge rubber gasket i9 is secured around the tube l5 directly below the housing I 8 to insure dependable closure when the cap is closed.

Within thecylinder [6 the end of the tube I5 has secured thereon a piston 22 which normally is held in the upper part of the cylinder by a coil spring 23 which bears on a washer 2t forming the base of the cylinder. Washer 24 is provided with a hole-25 which forms with a ball 26 seated therein a valve for the pump. In order to permit liquid entering the cylinder through the-hole 25, the wall of said cylinder is continued downward beyond the washer 24 and is provided-with a plurality of notches 2].

Normally the cylinder 16 is filled with the liquid contents of the bottle It] so that if the tube l be depressed by finger piece 2|, the piston 22 will force the liquid up through the tube and out of the spout 20. During this operation the ball is seated in the hole 25 and the liquid is not forced back into the bottle through said hole. The spring 23 is then allowed to restore piston 22 'to the upper end of the cylinder "5, the liquid pressure forcing the ball 26 out of its seat during such restoration, and refilling the cylinder.

It willbe seen that there is no seal between the liquid in the cylinder l6 and the opening in spout 20 so that when the bottle is laid aside the said liquid will evaporate. To prevent this the following means are provided:

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a cap 28 preferably of plastic is provided with internal threads 3?.- to screw onto the threaded neck H of bottle It. Above the threads 39 the internal diameter of the cap is lessened to provide an annular shoulder 3! against which is located a ring-like gasket 32 of paper or similar material. As shown in Fig. 4, the gasket 32 bears against the rubber plug 12 in the neck of the bottle when the cap is drawn up on the bottle neck. Thus the pump is sealed within the cap. As a further precaution against evaporation the vertical, inner dimension of the cap is such that when the same: is drawn up on the bottle neck it holds the tube I5 in depressed position so that the piston 22 is located in the bottom of the cylinder and prevents any liquid from entering the cylinder [6.

The construction is such that if the tube !5 is depressed slowly the liquid in the cylinder will not be forced up into the tube but will leak back into the bottle. Thus, the tube can be depressed slowly by the cap 28 and no liquid will spray from spout 2t; and once the cap is secured in place, evaporation of the liquid in the bottle will be prevented.

From Fig. 4, it will be noted that the bottom portion of the outer peripheryof the cap 28 is provided with a circular band of serrations 35 providing a grip for tightening the cap 28 onto the threaded neck I l of the bottle and for loosening the cap when it is to be removed.

It will be seen, therefore, that once purchased the pump and cap of the invention can be utilized with a succession of the bottles of the invention,

with the result that the amount of money expended for window cleaning is substantially reduced. L

It is to be understood that the cap 28 may be of a hat or round top surface ,or of any other desired shape.

While I have illustrated and described the-preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed, and the right reserved to all changes and modifications com ing within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. Closure means for a bottle having an externally threaded neck closed by an apertured plug through which the tube of a pump is slidably extended and a discharge housing on the top end of the tube, said closure means comprising a hollow cap fitted over the top of the discharge housing and having internal threads engaging the external threads of the neck, said cap having a top wall spaced from theplug a distance. less than the normal distance between the plug and the top of the housing so that said cap holds the tube and housing in a lowered position in which the bottom end of the housing is spaced slightly from the top of the plug, means within said cap holding the plug against accidental discharge from the neck, and means on the tube in the space between the plug and the housing sealing the passage of the tube through the plug.

2. Closure means for a bottle having an externally threaded neck closed by an apertured plug through which the tube of a pump is slidably extended and a discharge housing on the top end of the tube, said closure means comprising a hollow cap fitted over the top of the discharge housing and having internal threads engaging the external threads of the neck, said cap having a top wall spaced from the plug a distance less than the normal distance between the plug and the top of the housing so that said cap holds the tube and housing in a lowered position in which the bottom end of the housing is spaced slightly from the top of the plug, means within said cap holding the plug against accidental discharge from the neck, and means on the tube in the space between the plug and the housing sealing the passage of the tube through the plug. said plug holding means comprising an annular shoulder within said cap, said shoulder being spaced slightly above the top face of the plug, and a ring-like gasket within said cap between the shoulder and the plug.

3. Closure means for a bottle having an externally threaded neck closed by an apertured plug through which the tube of a pump is slidably extended and a discharge housing on the top end of the tube, said closure means comprising a hollow cap fitted over the top of the discharge housing and having internal threads engaging the external threads of the neck, said cap having a top wall spaced from the plug a distance less than the normal distance between the plug and the top of the housing so that said cap holds the tube and housing in a lowered position in which the bottom end of the housing is spaced slightly from the top of the plug, means within said cap holding the plug against accidental discharge from the neck, and means on the tube in the space between the plug and the housing sealing the passage of the tube through the plug, said sealing means comprising a gasket on the tube in the space between the top of the plug and the bottom of the housing.

4. Closure means for a bottle having an externally threaded neck closed by an apertured plug through which the tube of a pump is slidably extended and a discharge housing on. the top end of the tube, said closure means comprising a hollow cap fitted over the top of the discharge housing and having internal threads engaging the external threads of the neck, said cap hav ing a top wall spaced from the plug a distance less than the normal distance between the plug and the top of the housing so that said cap holds the tube and housing in a lowered position in which the bottom end of the housing is spaced slightly from the top of the plug, an annular shoulder within said cap, said shoulder facing and being spaced slightly above the top face of the plug, a ring-like gasket within said cap between said shoulder and the plug holding the plug in position in the neck, and a tubular gasket of soft rubber material on the tube in the space between the top of the plug and the bottom of through the plug. Number RUSSELL MELLON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file bf this patent:

Number 10 441,014

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Heller July 31, 1928 De Weal .1---- June 8, 1937 Irwin Oct. 19, 1937 Lohse June 7, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France May 17, 1912 

